TIL Desk Lucknow:👉The final day of the Lucknow Short Film Festival Season 2, AAO FILM BANAYE, presented by Lucknow Film Forum and supported by Amren Foundation, powered by Kent Healthcare Products, was a resounding success. The event showcased thought-provoking and captivating films from filmmakers across India. Highlight sessions included a mesmerizing talk on VFX by Aditya Talwar. Later, an insightful panel discussion on IPR, featuring Sunita Aron, Lohita Sujith, Jamshed Mistry, and Renuka Tandon, provided the audience with valuable insights. It was followed by a session on cinematography by Mark Bennington. Actor Nivedita Bhargava then took the stage for an enchanting talk, sharing her journey from Awadh to Heeramandi.
At the award ceremony, Awanish Awasthi, Advisor to the UP Chief Minister, presented awards to the guest speakers and winners of the Lucknow Short Film Festival Season 2.
The day began with the winner of the Ecoflicks Short Film Contest, “Face of India.” The film revolves around a northeastern girl who shares her experiences of being called derogatory names and facing discrimination for not looking “Indian enough.” The film left the audience in awe, and the hall echoed with applause as it concluded.
In the short film “Asylum,” directed by Amitabh Aurora, a society dominated by propaganda sees a local political party demolishing a mental asylum to erect a towering statue of their leader. With the patients now on the loose, the community faces a potential threat. The film underscores the shifting priorities in our society, where hatred, propaganda, and fanaticism eclipse logical development and pressing issues.
The film “DVAITA” showcased the story of an aging actor struggling with his mental illness and the fact that his glory days were behind him. His successful days might have snubbed the voices of his inner demons before, but now his mental illness puts him in a prison with no possible escape. The beautiful visual treat explored the relationship between the ailing father and his daughter.
After the screening, during the Q&A session, the director of the film and actors Renita Kapoor and Shishir Sharma talked about the production process of the film and how they prepared for their roles.
Afterward, Aditya Talwar, VFX and Animation artist who worked on films like “The Lego Movie” and “Happy Feet,” gave a detailed talk about the importance of VFX in the film industry. He also shared his journey in the booming industry of VFX and Animation. During the Q&A session, he addressed the impact of AI in the VFX and Animation industry, adding, “I don’t think it will take over the industry. Yes, it will make animation easier; the tedious tasks that used to take hours will now be done in a shorter time.”
Following this, the short film “ANTARNAAD…the voice within” was screened, a heart-wrenching musical set amidst two contrasting worlds: a normal woman trapped in an abnormal world and an abnormal woman trapped in a normal world. This poignant social drama explored the impact of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease on humankind, highlighting our narrow-minded, myopic approach driven by ignorance, apathy, shame, and guilt, and its resulting repercussions.
“WANTED MR. RASA” followed the journey of Balraj, who was struck by a mysterious illness. The quest for a remedy led to a quirky and eye-opening adventure, opening doors to empathy and a deeper connection with nature.
“Myzrab,” centered on Tathagata Deb, who was born deaf and mute and later diagnosed with delusion disorder. Thanks to his mother’s relentless efforts, along with support from family, doctors, and teachers, Tathagata was on a steady path to recovery. The film focused on his journey and the various treatments and training methods that had gradually helped him improve.
“Seppam Thottram (Symmetrical Vision)” was a split-screen narrative showing two stories simultaneously. One story followed a fourth-stage cancer patient who, after a successful surgery, entered a new phase of life. The other story followed an aspiring actor whose determination led to a breakthrough role and subsequent success. The film’s theme was about the struggle and willpower to live life without giving up.
The most anticipated segment of the evening was the winners’ award ceremony. The awards were presented by Mark Bennington, actor, Dhiraj Meshram, dean of films, FTII Pune, Renuka Tondon, Director of Lucknow Film Forum, and Ambrish Tondon, Director Amren Foundation. In the Best Picture category, “Marmaram” won the first place, with “ASYLUM” as the first runner-up and “Wanted Mr. Rasa” as the second runner-up. The Best Documentary award was given to “Myzrab,” directed by Swarnayu Maitra.
Furthermore, “Marmaram,” directed by Ananthu Madhav, won the award for Best Director. The accolade for Best Cinematography went to Rakesh Kakarla for his work on “Pluto’s Eclipse.” Shishir Sharma was honored as Best Actor Male for his role in “Dvaita,” while Padmini Sardesai received the Best Actor Female award for her performance in “Antarnaad: The Voice Within.” The award for Best Background Score was given to Amey Ghule for his work on “Avval,” and the Best Editing award went to Parth Vyas Jaykumar for “ASYLUM.”
Renowned Actor, Shishir Sharma, who won the best actor award at the Lucknow Short Film Festival, added “I am honored to be a part of this festival, it was amazing to see my film Dvaita on the big screen. I express my gratitude to Lucknow Film Forum for promoting the art of Short Films. ”
The Lucknow Short Film Festival Season 2 concluded with an enthralling star-studded theater performance by Kopal Production, titled ‘Kuch Panne.’ In this play, Bollywood actors Seema Pahwa and Mayank Pahwa portrayed two heartwarming stories. ‘Saag Meat’ showcased Seema Pahwa capturing the essence of family traditions and generational changes. The play used the metaphor of a beloved recipe to delve into the richness and depth of familial relationships, emphasizing the love and shared memories that kept them connected.
In “Gango Ki Jaya,” Mayank Pahwa presented a unique perspective on societal challenges and the nuances of human relationships. With compelling performances and thought-provoking storytelling, this narrative highlighted the everyday struggles and victories that defined our lives.
This festival would have not been possible without our talented and skilled team which included, Ambrish Tandon, Anushka Dalmia, Kanika Mehrotra, Riya Tiwari, Aman Arya, Tushar Usha Vishkarma and Red brigade team, Varun, Abhivyakti, Saahiba, Gargi.
